Foot restraining means for wheel chair patients



Feb. 6, 1968 R. RYBCZYNSKI 3,367,327

FOOT RESTRAINING MEANS FOR WHEEL CHAIR PATIENTS Filed March 8, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l [A/vEA/roe. Ra/wm/ RxeczyA/sz/ Feb. '6, 1968 R. RYBCZYNSKI 3,367,327

FOOT RESTRAINING MEANS FOR WHEEL CHAIR PATIENTS Filed March 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3,367,327 F6901 RESTRAINING MEANS FOR WHEEL CHAIR PATIENTS Roman Rybczynski, 9674 Sierra Sh, Fontana, Calif. 92335 Fiied Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,791 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-434) This invention relates to a device for restraining movement of a foot supported on a foot rest member and more particularly to a novel, inexpensive foot securement means for restraining unwanted movement of a foot of an invalid person who may be subject to random, uncontrollable seizures, convulsions, or muscular spasms during which his foot may be sharply moved off a foot rest member such as a wheel chair pedal.

Many patients may be restricted to a wheel chair as a mean of locomotion. Some of these patients may be epileptic or may be subject to muscular spasms in which parts of the body during their uncontrollable movement might become injured. In a particular instance, wheel chair patients rest their feet on a hinged foot pedal which extends horizontally inwardly from sides of a foot pedal support. Between such foot pedals is an open space and usually there is no side or front member which might tend to limit movement of the foot. During a spasm involving the lower portion of the leg or foot, a patients foot may be displaced in any one of several directions, may become twisted beneath the foot rest, may project outwardly beyond the foot rest and then be caught between the floor and the foot rest, and may project sidewardly outwardly from the foot rest and be caught against other objects, such as parts of furniture, a wall and the like. If the chair is in motion and the foot is caught between the pedal and the floor or strikes an object, the foot may be seriously injured and the patient may suffer extreme pain. It should be recognized that during such attacks, the individual patient has no control over the portion of the body undergoing the spasm and in the case of the lower leg extremities and foot, it may be extremely difiicult to restrain movement of two feet in order to prevent injury.

This problem has been recognized previously and present prior solutions known to me have included the use of flexible straps or hands crossing over the shoe of the patient and passed around the foot pedal or other pedal support. Such a strap binds the foot to the foot pedal but has several disadvantages. For example, such straps are sometimes difiicult to secure under proper tension, are often ditficult or impossible to be applied by patient, and, in general, are unattractive, unsightly and require an attendant to loosen or release. In addition, during a spasm, the straps may shift above a shoe and cut or bruise the shin of the patient.

The present invention contemplates a novel, inexpensive device which obviates the disadvantages of prior proposed constructions and which has numerous advantages. Among such advantages are the omission of any external bindings or straps, a simple convenient arrangement for interlocking a shoe equipped with a part of the device of this invention with a wheel chair foot pedal so as to restrict movement in all directions but one, the ability of the patient to use the device without assistance from an attendant, and a construction in which the device is generally concealed and not normally observable by others so that the appearance of the shoe or foot of the patient is not detracted from.

The primary object of this invention therefore is to disclose and provide a novel device for use in limiting or restricting movement of a foot wearing a shoe or the like.

An object of the invention is to disclose and provide States Patent 6 3,367,327 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 a novel device for restraining movement of a foot with respect to a foot rest member and which is inexpensive, readily manufactured and installed.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a shoe movement restricting device which, in one example, is so constructed as to not interfere with normal walking of a patient wearing the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide means for simply and eifectively restricting unwanted movement of the foot of a patient wearing a shoe having means thereon cooperable with a foot rest member.

The invention contemplates a novel, inexpensive device which is adapted for use with either mens or ladies shoes and which is readily releasably associated with a foot rest member for restraining movement of a foot on a foot rest member.

These and many other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description of the drawings in which several embodiments of the invention are shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a wheel chair and patient, illustrating a use of a device embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of a shoe and foot pedal embodying my invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view indicated by the line III-IH of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the device embodying my invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View of a ladys shoe and foot pedal embodying this invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of another embodiment of this invention as used on a mans shoe.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective viev' of the device shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a wheel chair generally indicated at 10, occupied by a male patient having a foot in a shoe 11 resting on a wheel chair pedal or foot support member 12, the shoe Ii. and pedal 12 being equipped with a device embodying the present invention.

In this embodiment, shoe 11 may be a mans shoe of any suitable manufacture including a sole portion 14, a recessed instep portion 15, and a heel portion 16. The heel portion 16 may be provided with a longitudinally extending groove or recess 17 formed in its bottom surface and having an open end facing the instep recessed portion 15. Recess 17 has a depth sufficient to receive a flat elongated, generally rectangular bar or tongue member 18 which may be secured to heel portion 16 by any suitable means such as a pair of screws 19 which pass through spaced ports 20 in tongue member 18. Tongue member 18 has a forward engagement portion 21 provided with a front rounded edge 22 which terminates in spaced relation to the rear of sole portion 14, the space being generally indicated at S.

Engagement portion 21 extends into an opening 24 pro-- vided by a generally U-section strap 25 having a central section 26 spaced from top surface 27 of foot pedal 12. Strap 25 includes end portions 28 provided with ports for receiving screw bolts 29 for securing strap 25 to pedal 12. In this embodiment, strap 25 may be located at the rear portion of pedal 12 so that the pedal may support in normal manner the heel and sole portions of shoe 11.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that after a patient wearing a pair of shoes such as 11 is seated in wheel chair 10, he may readily engage and interlock each shoe 11 with strap 25 by simply aligning and placing tongue engagement portion 21 on the surface of pedal 12 rearwardly of the strap and then moving his foot forwardly so that the engagement portion 21 extends into and through opening 24 defined by strap 25. A relatively loose fit is provided between tongue engagement portion 21 and strap 25 and the round curvature of the leading edge of portion 21 facilitates initial insertion of portion 21 into opening 24.

When shoe 11 is thus interlocked with pedal 12, it will be apparent that shoe 11 and the foot contained therein is restrained against sidewise and upward movement by the strap 25, the pedal 12 limits downward movement of the foot and the abutment of the front face of heel portion 16 with the edge of the strap limits forward motion of the foot. Likewise, twisting motion of the foot is restrained by the strap 25. Motion rearwardly is permitted in order to engage and disengage tongue portion 21 with the strap. In most instances, during a spasm of a foot of a seated patient, there is little movement rearwardly of the foot because of the bent position of the leg at the knee and any motion rearwardly is limited to some extent by the seat and supporting wheel chair structure. Some wheel chairs may include as standard equipment heel straps or heel abutments which limit rearward movement of a foot on the pedal.

In the embodiment above described, it will also be apparent that after the shoe 11 with tongue member 18 has been disengaged with strap 25 by moving the foot rearwardly, the patient can walk in substantially normal manner with shoes 11 because the tongue engagement portion 21 extends into instep recess and will not prevent flexing of the shoe.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a movement restraining device is illustrated as applied to a womans shoe 11'. In this embodiment, the sole portion 14' of the shoe may carry a flatsecurement plate 30 of suitable configuration to conform with the configuration of the sole portion 14'. The securement plate 30 provides means for attaching thereto a smaller attachment plate 31 which may carry an angle-shaped tongue member 32 secured in suitable manner as by welding. Member 32 includes a depending wall portion 33 which is integral with a forwardly extending tongue engagement portion 34 and which spaces portion 34 from attachment plate 31. Such space is sufficient so that a strap having strap opening 24 may be received between attachment plate 31 and tongue portion 34, the tongue portion 34 projecting through opening 24 as shown in FIG. 5. Strap 25' may be secured to the forward portion of a wheel chair pedal 12' so that heel portion 16 of the ladys shoe may rest on pedal 12'.

If desired tongue member 32 may be formed by striking or stamping portions 33 and 34 from the metal of plate 31. On some shoe sole portions 14' securement plate may be omitted and plate 31 may be directly attached to the sole portion.

It will be readily apparent that the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that described in the first embodiment. In this instance however, normal walking on shoe 11' is not desirable because of contact of the tongue member 32 with the floor.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a construction is shown in which linear movement in all directions is restrained by the device of this invention. In this example, a shoe 11" includes a sole portion 14" to which may be secured a securement plate having attached thereto an attachment plate 41 which may carry a depending stud 42 provided with transversely extending arms or pins 43 spaced a sufficient distance from attachment plate 41 so that foot pedal 12" may be received therebetween. Foot pedal 12 includes a keyway slot 44 having a shape corresponding to a bottom view of the stud and pins. The long axis of keyway slot 44 is disposed at a selected angle to the longitudinal axis of pedal 12" or the normal position of the shoe. When it is desired to insert and interlock the stud and pin with the pedal, the shoe must be turned to such selected angle so as to permit passage of the pins 43 through the keyway slot 44. In normal position of shoe 11", the pins 43 are disposed out of alignment with keyway slot 44 and may move against the bottom surface of pedal 12" upon upward movement of the shoe.

Thus upon occurrence of a muscular spasm affecting lower extremities of a patient, a foot enclosed in a shoe 11" may twist about the axis of stud 42 but is restricted against forward, sideward, backwards and vertical movement. Disengagement of the stud and pin from the pedal 12" is readily accomplished by simply turning the shoe 11" to align pins 43 with slot 44 and then lifting the shoe upwardly.

It will be understood that the stud and pin arrangement may take other forms or configurations; as for example, a T-headed bolt, an angle bolt, and other lateral extension elements carried on a stud or shank. Similarly the configuration of the key slot 44 may be modified and changed.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the several examples of the invention described above provide a movement limiting or restraining means for a foot in such a shoe as described above by the interlocking connection of a tongue member with the respective opening provided on the pedal member. When the shoe is interlocked with the. pedal, the interlocking device is substantially concealed by the shoe on the pedal, is not noticeable and there are no parts which would tend to detract from the appearance of the shoe on the wheel chair pedal.

Various modifications and changes may be made in the several embodiments of the invention described above and which may come within the spirit of the invention; and all such changes coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. Means for limiting relative movement of a foot of a patient with respect to a pedal on a wheel chair comprising in combination: a foot support member having a shoe supporting surface on such a wheel chair; means on said support member defining with said shoe supporting surface an opening; and a shoe for the patients foot provided with rigid means thereon insertable into said opening by manipulation of the shoe for interlocking engagement with said foot support member for restraining relative movement of the shoe with respect to the foot support member.

2. In a means as stated in claim 1 wherein said means defining said opening on said foot support member includes a strap of U-section.

3.A means as stated in claim 1 wherein said rigid means on said shoe includes a tongue member lying in a plane parallel to a sole portion of said shoe.

4. A means as stated in claim 1 wherein said means on said shoe and having a major portion extending parallel to said sole portion includes an angle member attached to the sole portion of said shoe.

5. In combination: a wheel chair; a foot support member on said wheel chair; engagement means on said foot support member including an opening defined by said engagement means and said support member; and a shoe having thereon rigid means with a free end portion extending from the shoe, said free end portion being interlockably received within said opening of said engagement means for restricting relative movement of said shoe with respect to said foot support member in all directions but one.

6. Means for limiting relative movement of a foot of a patient with respect to a pedal on a wheel chair comprising in combination:

a foot support member on such Wheel chair provided With means defining an opening, said opening means including a keyway slot in said foot support member; and a shoe for the patients foot provided with means thereon insertable into said opening for interlocking engagement with said foot support member for restraining relative movement of the shoe with respect to the foot support member.

7. Means for limiting relative movement of a foot of a patient with respect to a pedal on a wheel chair comprising in combination:

a foot support member on such Wheel chair provided with means defining an opening, said opening means including a keyway slot in said foot support member; and a shoe for the patients foot provided with means thereon insertable into said opening for interlocking engagement with said foot support member for restraining relative movement of the shoe with respect to the foot support member, said means on said shoe including a depending stud fixed to the sole of said shoe and having a transverse pin.

8. In combination: a support member for a portion of a patients body, said support member having a surface thereon; engagement means carried by said support member and defining with said surface an opening; and means holding the body portion and having a rigid member cooperable with said opening of said engagement means to limit movement of the body portion, said means holding the body portion including a shoe having a sole, a securement plate on said sole and carrying said member with a portion of said member extending therealong in spaced relation to said sole.

9. In combination: a support member for a portion of a patients body, said support member having a surface thereon; engagement means carried by said support member on said surface; means holding the body portion and having a rigid member cooperable with the engagement means to limit movement of the body portion in all directions but one, said means holding the body portion carrying said member with said member extending therefrom and having a free portion disposed in spaced relation to the holding means and extending therealong, said portion being releasably engageable with said engagement means by movement of the body portion holding means in said one direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,117 9/1953 Harris 3611.5 2,774,097 12/ 1956 Lehmann 297-423 2,835,249 5/1958 Brandano 128-l34 3,098,479 7/ 1963 Storey 128134 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR LIMITING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF A FOOT OF A PATIENT WITH RESPECT TO A PEDAL ON A WHEEL CHAIR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FOOT SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A SHOE SUPPORTING SURFACE ON SUCH A WHEEL CHAIR; MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER DEFINING WITH SAID SHOE SUPPORTING SURFACE AN OPENING; AND A SHOE FOR THE PATIENT''S FOOT PROVIDED WITH RIGID MEANS THEREON INSERTABLE INTO SAID OPENING BY MANIPULATION OF THE SHOE FOR INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FOOT SUPPORT MEMBER FOR RESTRAINING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF THE SHOE WITH RESPECT TO THE FOOT SUPPORT MEMBER. 